Experimental TANK-hunter PLATOON
Dicker Max Tank-hunter
Development
While still fighting in Poland in September
1939, the German High Command looked ahead to
the coming battle with France and ordered a
vehicle for use against the fortifi­cations of
the Maginot Line. In response, Krupp set about
designing a self-propelled 10.5cm K18 long-
range gun based on a Panzer IV tank chassis.
The new vehicle’s rotund profile quickly
gained it the nickname ‘Dicker Max’ (‘Fat
Max’). On 31 March 1941 Krupp-Gruson presented
the first of two prototypes designated 10.5cm
K18 auf Panzer Selbstfahrlafette IVa (10.5cm
K18 on Armoured Self-propelled Mount IVa) to
Hitler.
With France defeated, Hitler ordered that..this
vehicle be developed into a heavy Panzerjager
(tank-hunter) capable of destroying the
anticipated British and Soviet super-heavy
tanks. Production of the 10.5cm K18 auf Panzer
Selbstfahrlafette IVa was planned to start in
spring 1942, but was cancelled in favour of
other vehicles.
Combat Service
The two prototypes were assigned to
..
521. Schwere Panzer­jager­abteilung for a
planned attack on Gibraltar. When this was
cancelled, they were assigned to 3. Panzer­
division for Operation Barbarossa. One of them
was lost in an ammunition explosion and the
other returned to the factory in October 1941
after three months in combat.
Having proved itself very effective against
Soviet KV-1, KV-2 and T-34 tanks, the
surviving Dicker Max returned to 3. Panzer­
division alongside the even better-armed
Sturer Emil in 1942.
Dicker Max Specifications
Designation: 10.5cm K18 auf
Panzerselbstfahrlafette IVa
Nickname: Dicker Max
Crew: 5 (cdr, gnr, ldr (2), dvr)
Weight: 55,112lb/25,000kg
Length: 24’8”/7.52m
Height: 10’8”/3.25m
Width: 9’4”/2.84m
Armament: 1x 10.5cm K18 gun,
1x 7.92mm MG34 machine-gun
Traverse: 8 degrees left and right
Sturer Emil Tank-Hunter
Design Features
Dicker Max is first and foremost a
gun-carrier and the gun it carried was
the long-range Rheinmetall s10cm K18
artillery piece fitted with a muzzle
break.
This weapon can penetrate 111mm of
armour at a 30 degree slope at 2000
meters—30% more than the famous 8.8cm
FlaK18 anti-aircraft gun!
Such a large gun is usually rather
slow-firing, but with two loaders and
ammunition ready to hand, it gives a
good account of itself.
The powerful 10.5cm gun mounted in the Dicker
Max is more than capable of destroying anything
but the heaviest super tank.
Range 40”/100cm, ROF 2, Anti-tank 15
10.5cm K18 auf PzSfl IVa - Dicker Max
Ammunition Stowage: 25x 10.5cm, 600x 7.92mm
Armour Thickness: 20mm to 50mm
Engine: Maybach HL 120TRM 12-cylinder petrol,
725cu in/12 litre, 300hp
Transmission: Maybach double differential
Suspension: Leaf springs
Maximum Speed: 25mph/40km/h
Cross-country Speed: Classified
Road Radius: 130 miles/210km
Design Features
If you thought that Dicker Max was well
armed, you haven’t seen Sturer Emil.
This monster carried a 12.8cm gun with
a 25’6”/7.8m long barrel.
This fired a 58lb/26.4kg shot at
2887fps/880m/s. It could penetrate 120mm
of armour sloped at 30 degrees at 2000m
and over 200mm at point-blank range.
Despite the weight of the shell, the
spacious fighting compartment allowed
the two loaders to maintain a good rate
of fire.
Most tanks simply disintegrate under the impact
of the 12.8cm L/61 gun. Even the heaviest super
tank cannot withstand it.
Range 48”/120cm, ROF 2, Anti-tank 18
12.8cm L/61 auf PzSfl V - Sturer Emil
Sturer Emil Specifications
Designation: 12.8cm L/61 auf
Panzerselbstfahrlafette V
Nickname: Sturer Emil
Crew: 5 (cdr, gnr, ldr (2), dvr)
Weight: 77,157lb/35,000kg)
Length: 31’10”/9.7m
Height: 8’10”/2.7m
Width: 10’4½”/3.16m
Armament: 1x 12.8cm K L/61 gun,
1x 7.92mm MG34 machine-gun
Traverse: 7 degrees left and right
Development
When the VK3001(H) heavy tank project was
dropped in favour of the VK4501 that would
eventually become the Tiger tank, two of the
prototype chassis were used to produce the
most powerfully armed self-propelled gun of
the war.
The 12.8 cm Selbstfahrlafette L/61 (12.8cm
L/61 Self-propelled Mounting) or Panzerselbst­
lafette V (Armoured Self-propelled Mounting
V) was armed with a Rheinmetall 12.8 cm K
L/61 gun (based on the 12.8 cm FlaK 40). The
unofficial nickname of this design was ‘Sturer
Emil’ (Stubborn Emil), and the two vehicles
were named Max and Moritz after the naughty
boys in Busch’s famous German children’s tale.
Interestingly Moritz, the first prototype,
had a second dummy driver’s compartment on
the right of the hull while Max had just the
driver’s compartment on the left side.
The Sturer Emil was slow and its lack of
compatibility with other equipment caused
logistical problems. These problems paled in
comparison with the outstanding performance
of its gun. It could easily engage targets at
extreme ranges unmatched by any Soviet tank or
anti-tank guns.
Combat Service
Max and Moritz joined..the surviving Dicker
Max when 521. Panzerjagerabteilung returned
to 3. Panzerdivision for the advance into the
Caucasus. After the disaster at Stalingrad,
Max was destroyed fighting with 2. Panzer­
division and Moritz was captured. At the
time Moritz had 22 kill rings painted on
the barrel.
Ammunition Stowage: 18x 12.8cm, 600x 7.92mm
Armour Thickness: 15mm to 50mm
Engine: Maybach HL116 6-cylinder petrol,
674cu in/11 litre, 300hp
Transmission: Maybach double differential
Suspension: Transverse torsion bar
Maximum Speed: 15.5mph/25km/h
 Experimental TANK-hunter PLATOON
Replacing Standard Equipment with Dicker Max and Sturer Emil
Germany fielded a variety of heavy tank-hunters, ranging from the experimental
Heavier Tank-hunter Platoon Leutnant
Dicker Max and Sturer Emil to the Ferdinand based on the Tiger (P) chassis. The new tank-hunter units were formed in LEUTNANT
These were used interchangeably as the situation demanded. 1943 from cadres of established tank-hunter
battalions.
Any German company may replace its Tank-hunter Platoon with an Experimental Tank-hunter Heavier Tank-hunter Platoons are rated as:
Platoon, Heavier Tank-hunter Platoon, or Heaviest Tank-hunter Platoon. Confident Veteran Command Dicker Max
HQ Section
Platoon
Unteroffizier Unteroffizier
Experimental Tank-hunter Platoon 3 Dicker Max........... 525 points
Leutnant
The heavy tank-hunters were assigned to an 2 Dicker Max........... 350 points
experienced anti-tank battalion. LEUTNANT
1 Dicker Max........... 175 points Dicker Max Dicker Max
Experimental Tank-hunter Platoons are rated
as: Confident Veteran Tank-hunter Section Tank-hunter Section
Dicker Max is best used as a long-range
Command Sturer Emil tank-hunter firing from concealed positions Heavier TANK-hunter Platoon
Platoon HQ Section behind your own troops. This will keep
the enemy at a safe range where it cannot Dicker Max, while allowing the tank-hunter’s
2 Sturer Emil and 1 Dicker Max .635 points penetrate the relatively thin armour of the powerful long-range gun to pick them off.
Unteroffizier Unteroffizier
2 Sturer Emil.................460 points
1 Sturer Emil and 1 Dicker Max .405 points
1 Sturer Emil.................230 points Heaviest Tank-hunter Platoon Leutnant
Sturer Emil Dicker Max
1 Dicker Max..................175 points Tank-hunter Section Tank-hunter Section
Only the best crews were selected to man LEUTNANT
these the heaviest tank hunters.
Experimental TANK-hunter Platoon Heaviest Tank-hunter Platoons are rated as:
Max and Emil
Confident Veteran
Despite their size difference and different manufacturers, Dicker Max and Sturer Emil have Command Sturer Emil
very similar appearance. It is very difficult for the enemy to tell them apart at a distance.
Platoon HQ Section

When shooting at an Experimental Tank-hunter Platoon: 3 Sturer Emil.......... 690 points Unteroffizier Unteroffizier
- Treat Dicker Max and Sturer Emil tank-hunters as if they have the same armour ratings 2 Sturer Emil.......... 460 points
for the Hit Weakest Armour First rule (page 95 of the rulebook). This allows the German
player to allocate hits to the Sturer Emil tank-hunters before the Dicker Max tank- 1 Sturer Emil.......... 230 points
hunters if they wish to do so. Sturer Emil Sturer Emil
- Treat Dicker Max and Sturer Emil tank-hunters as having different chassis, making them Use the extraordinary long-range firepower Tank-hunter Section Tank-hunter Section
distinguishable using the Gun Tanks rule (page 96 of the rulebook). The shooting player of the Sturer Emil to occupy a dominating
can attempt to choose which type of tank they hit using this rule. position and steadily pick off every enemy Heaviest TANK-hunter Platoon
tank that appears. The armour on a Sturer
Emil is equivalent to a medium tank, so start to get near, simply shoot them down as
there is no need to retreat if the enemy they close.

Armour
Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes
Dicker Max Standard Tank 4 1 0 AA MG.

Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

s 10cm K18 gun 40”/100cm 2 15 2+ Hull mounted.

Armour
Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes
Sturer Emil Slow Tank 5 2 0 AA MG, Unreliable.

Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

12.8cm K L/61 gun 48”/120cm 2 18 2+ Hull mounted,
Breakthrough gun.

With two loaders the Dicker Max and Sturer Emil get an extraordinary rate of fire out of their
guns, despite their enormous size and power.